The elfin actress spills the beans about modelling
make-up, married life and making babies...

Liv Tyler's striking looks and grounded
attitude have earned the star of The
Lord Of The Rings a reputation as one
of Hollywood's most promising talents. At
26, the former model and face of Givcnchy
is part of Hollywood's in crowd, and counts
Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna as friends.
The daughter of Aerosmith singer Steven
Tyler, Liv is married to Royston Langdon
former frontman of Brit rock band Spacehog.
With new movie Jersey Girl - which
also stars Ben Affleck and J.Lo - set for
release. Liv tells Star about married life, her
plans for kids, and what it takes to keep her
one of the world's most stunning actresses.

You've been with Royston for quite
a few years. What’s your secret?

"I don't have it all figured out - we're just
compatible. We're patient and understanding,
we love each other and we're good friends
it just works. We work very well together,
but it's also really important for us both to
focus, to be apart. He can't write music
if I'm breathing down his neck the whole
time. I guess it's just the way we are."

In Jersey Girl your character is sexually
very open. Are you like that too?

"It depends who I'm with. Or how many
cocktails I've had! I've never approached
a guy. You might think so, but I haven't.
I've been with my husband for six
years and before that I was with Joaquin
[Phoenix] for three years, so I 've never been
a big dater. But I have lots of beautiful
girlfriends who date all the time. They don't
have any luck finding the right guy, and
I think: 'What's going on? You're amazing.'"

How do you know when you're in love?

"You just know. It takes over everything,
and you just know."

What was it like growing up with famous
folks? [Liv's mum was model Bebe Buell]

"My family dynamic was never normal. but
I grew up in Maine and went to school like
everybody else. It wasn't until I moved to
New York that I started modelling and acting.
But even then i went to school everyday,
and would only go to auditions
afterwards."

You’re pals with Stella McCartney.
Does she ever send you clothes?

"Sometimes, I've grown up around
fashion and I like getting the chance
to play different characters - I've
always been very girlie. I used to
light with my grandmother about
what I could wear to school - even
when I was six years old!"

How did the Givenchy contract
come about? Wasn't Audrey
Hepburn the last person they
gave a contract to?

"They just offered me a contract to
do the fragrance and cosmetics.
A model, Paulina Porizkova,
was responsible for me becoming
known. She took some pictures of
me when I was 14 and introduced
me to modelling. She had a contract
with Estée Lauder, and I remember
she always said: 'Get a cosmetics
contract, because it's great.'"
I have a four-year contract, and
I get paid each year. So it's good
security, and I don't have to take any
old movie just to make money. Also,
Paulina's entire bathroom was filled
with all kinds of free make-up and
creams. And I was like: 'Yaa-ah!'"

You have amazing skin...

"Thank you - I've my family to
thank because my mom, dad and
grandmother have all got beautiful
skin. But I have to take good care of
mine - especially as I travel so much.
This week I was in LA for ten
days. Then I flew home and had to
get up yesterday morning and go to
a benefit. I only had about four hours
sleep - then came here this morning!"

What's the one thing you do
to keep fresh?

"I take vitamins. But I'm not good
with drinking a lot of water - I wish
I was better. I do a lot of masks and
stuff, and I get facials. But honestly,
I find that if my diet is good then
my skin's really good. If I eat a lot
of crap I break out in seconds."

How do you stay in shape?

"I do have to work out. If I ate what
I wanted all the time I'd be a lot
heavier than I am now. I've been
on more of a raw diet - 1 don't eat
that much meat, just a lot of fruit
and vegetables, and maybe fish.
That whole Atkins protein thing
didn't work for me at all.
I have a trainer and I do Pilates.
A lot of my work is mental rather
than physical, so it's important to
release some energy physically.
It helps my mind work better."

In Jersey Girl you wear glasses.
Do you wear them off screen?

"Kevin [Smith, the director] saw me
in my glasses one day and liked it.
I have glasses for driving and for
watching films - and for reading
the autoeuc at the Oscars!"

You visit London a lot. What do
you like about it?

"I don't spend as much time there
as I'd like, because we live in New
York. I love shopping in London.
I've lots of friends there who I love
seeing. I always have a good time."

Are British men better than
American guys?

"Oh, God, I don't know. Royston's
so funny and he's such a gentleman
he has such beautiful manners.
He treats me like a lady and is really
intelligent. He was raised well, but
I know a lot of English boys who
don't have those traits - and lots
of American ones who don't
have them either!"

Do you plan to have children?

"I'm born under Cancer, which is
supposedly a very motherly sign.
I can remember being six years old
and wishing that I had more siblings.
I've always known I wanted a family,
so I'm definitely looking forward
to having children.
But, as in Jersey Girl, there's
a lot of pressure in today's society
about your career. It's like: 'You
can't have a kid now because of
your career.' Or vice versa: 'You
can't work now; you have to focus
on your family.' I'm not ready yet,
but I really want to have children."

Careerwise, what are your plans?

"I've never had any kind of a career
plan. I read so many scrips but I'm
really just drawn to the director
the director is everything. No matter
how good the script is, if the
director isn't amazing you don't
have a good movie.
The picture that I'm doing next
[Lonesome Jim] only has a budget
of about $300.000, but
Steve Buscemi is directing it. I've
never done anything like it in my life,
and I've no idea what it's going to
be like, but I really love the script
and I really love Steve, so I'm just
going to go for it."